The Law

There are many laws that govern the way we live, from the age of consent to civil partnerships or harrassment.

It is illegal in England and Wales for someone over the age of 16 male or female to have sexual intercource or even touching sexually someone under 16. The law states that young people must be 16 before they can legally consent to sexual activity.

It is not intended that the law should be used to prosecute mutually agreed teenage sexual activity between two young people of a similar age unless is involves abuse of exploitation, but it is still against the law and this is to protect young people.

For anyone under the age of 13 the law is much stronger as young people are deemed too young to be able to consent to any sexual activity, whatever the circumstances.

It's also a crime if someone physically or verbally abuses you because you are LGBT (or because they think you are).